A BURNLEY company is sponsoring a world-record attempt to make the first ever kite-powered crossing of the Gobi Desert.

Network VEKA, the Burnley-based national trade body, is sponsoring 60-year-old consultant professor Brian Cunningham in his record bid.

The organisation, based in Rossendale Road, has donated thousands of pounds to fund the attempt. It will take the team across one of the most remote parts of the world. If successful, they will be the first to achieve the feat and they will attempt at least one endurance record on the way.

Prof Cunningham, 60, who lives in Bolton, is an internationally acknowledged expert on product branding and a visiting professor at Manchester Business School.

As a seasoned extreme sports enthusiast, his most recent adventure, the Kit Kat Ice Kites Expedition across the Antarctic in 2002, attracted worldwide attention but was thwarted by one of the most windless periods on record at the South Pole.

The Gobi Desert forms a large part of Mongolia and is legendary for its extreme weather conditions.

The Network VEKA 2004 Gobi-Kites Expedition is planned for September when the winds are predicted to be North Westerly.

Prof Cunningham said: "We aim to cover over 1,000km in the kite buggies from the Altay region, first heading south easterly then turning north east to the finishing point in the Erdenaalai region.

"During the journey, we will traverse the country's famous Desert Of Dinosaur Bones."

A spokesman for VEKA said: "The expedition buggies have been purpose-designed, incorporating many refinements such as high-tech alloy wheels to withstand the punishing terrain.

"The kites are also designed specifically for the conditions.

"As well as the first traverse of the Gobi, the team aim to set a new record for the furthest distance travelled by kite-buggy in 24 hours."